# NTSB DEN05CA020: Mooney M20E, N2695W, Santa Rosa, NM, November 5, 2004 - Type: NTSB accident investigation - Classification: Accident · No injuries · Data collection · Final report - Date: November 5, 2004, 14:30 local (21:30 UTC) - Place: Santa Rosa, NM - Coordinates: 34.933612, -104.643333 - Nearby events: https://openairdocs.org/map.md?lat=34.9336&lon=-104.6433&mi=10 - Phase of flight: [Enroute](https://openairdocs.org/ntsb-phases/400) (OpenAirDocs' grouping) - Highest injury: No injuries - Injuries: 1 uninjured - Status: Completed, report January 24, 2005 - Report: Approved by Office Director - Parties: FAA Flight Standards Field Office - NTSB case key (mKey): 60533 - NTSB case page: https://web.ntsb.gov/investigations/?ntsbnumber=DEN05CA020 - NTSB report (PDF, downloads): https://data.ntsb.gov/carol-repgen/api/Aviation/ReportMain/GenerateNewestReport/60533/pdf - Page: https://openairdocs.org/ntsb/DEN05CA020 ## Probable cause Inadequate maintenance inspection which failed to detect the separation of the right P-lead, resulting in a loss of engine power. ## Sequence of events In NTSB's coding before 2008 (https://www.ntsb.gov/GILS/Documents/codman.pdf). - Loss of engine power(partial) - mech failure/malf, cruise - ignition system,magneto grounding lead (p-lead) - separation (contributing factor) - maintenance,annual inspection - inadequate, other maintenance personnel (contributing factor) - ignition system,magneto - failure (contributing factor) - Forced landing, descent - emergency - On ground/water collision with object, landing - roll - object - sign (contributing factor) ## Analysis While preparing to depart, the pilot stated that the airplane's "battery seemed weak" and noted that the ammeter was not charging or discharging. The pilot had the battery charged for 1/2 hour and elected to fly to another airport to have a mechanic examine the airplane. While en route, he noticed "the engine was running rough." The pilot checked both magnetos and noted the left magneto selection resulted in a rough engine. The fuel pressure was also low; however, the pilot felt he would be okay until arriving at his destination. The pilot stated that both magnetos began to run rough. He was unable to maintain altitude and landed on a highway. While maneuvering the airplane to avoid oncoming traffic, the airplane struck a road sign causing substantial damage. Examination of the engine revealed that the P-lead had broken off of the right magneto. The P-lead had been rubbing against a bracket aft of the P-lead, prior to its failure. FAA inspector who examined the airplane stated that an annual inspection should have discovered this situation. ## Factual narrative On November 5, 2004, at approximately 1430 mountain standard time, a Mooney, N2695W, piloted by a commercial pilot, was substantially damaged when it impacted a road sign during a forced landing on Highway 54, north of Santa Rosa, New Mexico. Visual meteorological conditions prevailed at the time of the accident. The personal flight was being conducted under the provisions of Title 14 CFR Part 91 without a flight plan. The pilot was not injured. The cross-country flight originated at Miami, Oklahoma, and was en route to Tucumcari, New Mexico. According to the accident report submitted by the pilot, he had purchased the accident airplane in August of 2003. The pilot requested an inspection to be conducted by Broken Arrow Aviation in Miami, Oklahoma, to ensure there was "no corrosion." The annual inspection was performed on October 3, 2004. The pilot left Miami on the date of the accident. During his flight, the pilot attempted to land at Amarillo, Texas; however, he was unable to establish radio contact with them and elected to continue on to Tucumcari, New Mexico. When the pilot arrived in Tucumcari, he was unable to extend his landing gear and had to "crank the gear down." The airplane was refueled and while preparing to depart, the pilot stated that the airplane's "battery seemed weak" and noted that the ammeter was not charging or discharging. The pilot had the battery charged for 1/2 hour and elected to fly to Double Eagle Airport, Albuquerque, New Mexico, where he had arranged to have a mechanic examine the airplane. The pilot departed Tucumcari and upon passing Santa Rosa, he noticed "the engine was running rough." The pilot checked both magnetos and noted the left magneto selection resulted in a rough engine. The fuel pressure was also low; however, the pilot felt he would be okay until arriving in Albuquerque. The pilot stated that both magnetos began to run rough and he attempted to return to Santa Rosa. He was unable to maintain altitude and landed on Highway 54. While maneuvering the airplane to avoid oncoming traffic, the airplane struck a road sign. The outboard 24 inches of the leading edge of the right wing was crushed aft. The four outer ribs of the right wing were fractured and bent. According to the FAA inspector who traveled to the scene, examination of the engine revealed that the P-lead had broken off of the right magneto. The P-lead had been rubbing against a bracket aft of the P-lead, prior to its failure. The FAA inspector stated further that an annual inspection should have discovered this situation. ## Aircraft - Registration: [N2695W](https://openairdocs.org/deregistered/N2695W-2018-01-03), registration cancelled 2018-01-03, S/N 1010, built 1966 (OpenAirDocs) - Reported make and model: Mooney M20E - Registry model: [Mooney M20E](https://openairdocs.org/model/mooney-m20e) (registry code 5870212) (OpenAirDocs) - Registry engine: [Lycoming I0360 series](https://openairdocs.org/engine/lycoming-i0360-series) (registry code 41515, reciprocating) (OpenAirDocs) - Category: Airplane - Serial number: 1010 - Engines: Lycoming IO-360-A1A 200 horsepower reciprocating - Damage: Substantial damage - Flight: Personal, Part 91 - Airworthiness certificate: Standard, Normal - Last inspection: Annual, October 1, 2004, 6 hours before - Departed: MIO, MIAMI, OK - Destination: TCC, TUCUMCARI, NM - Airport: NONE, Off Airport ## Flight crew As NTSB recorded them. NTSB leaves out names. - Pilot; age 77; injuries: none; commercial; airplane ratings: single-engine land; instrument ratings: airplane; medical: class 2, valid medical--no waivers/lim.; last flight review November 4, 2004; seat: left; flight hours: 10,500 total, 50 in this make and model, 20 in the last 90 days, 10 in the last 30 days, 6 in the last 24 hours ## Weather - Conditions: Visual (VMC), Dawn - Wind: 220° at 14 knots - Visibility: 10 statute miles - Lowest ceiling: none - Temperature: 70 °F, dew point 1 °F - Altimeter: 30.31 inHg - Observed at: LVS, 50 nm away ## FAA reports on this event (1) The FAA's own accident and incident reports, matched to the aircraft by N-number and date (OpenAirDocs). - [Accident 20041105027909A](https://openairdocs.org/incident/20041105027909A), Nov 5, 2004: Mooney M20E, Santa Rosa, NM, Substantial damage. (-23) On November 5, 2004, at 1430 MST, a Mooney 20-E, N2695W, registered to the pilot, performed an emergency landing on U.S. Highway 54 approximately one… From the NTSB's public API. Aircraft are matched to registry aircraft by N-number and event date, checked against the reported serial number, make and model; the registry's history has gaps, so older matches can be wrong. Compare the reported make and model. --- OpenAirDocs.org is an independent research project of [Contrail Labs](https://contraillabs.com/). It is not affiliated with the FAA or the NTSB. Source documents are U.S. government works in the public domain.